Boehringer gets acceptance in Scotland for Trajenta-insulin combination to treat T2D

SMC has issued its final advice, following a Health Technology Appraisal accepting linagliptin as an additional treatment option for these patients in combination with insulin with or without metformin, when this regimen alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control.

So far, linagliptin has been examined in randomized controlled clinical trials that have included over 5,000 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

In these trials, treatment with linagliptin produced significant reductions in HbA1c and compared with placebo, it improved glycaemic control in these adults who had inadequate glycaemic control on an insulin-containing regimen.

Earlier, the SMC has accepted linagliptin for restricted use as monotherapy in combination with metformin, and in combination with a sulphonylurea and metformin.

This advice is now extended to include the use of linagliptin in combination with insulin.

Boehringer Ingelheim UK medical director Charles De Wet said: "We are very pleased that the SMC has now extended their recommendation for linagliptin in combination with insulin for Type 2 diabetes patients in Scotland."

Incretins such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GLP-1 and GIP) are hormones that help the body produce more insulin and reduce the amount of glucose being produced by the liver.